One of many recreation’s prime prospects made his MLB debut Monday. The Washington Nationals promoted outfield prospect James Wooden to the massive leagues for Monday’s sequence opener in opposition to the New York Mets (NYM 9, WAS 7 in 10 innings). Wooden was within the beginning lineup, batting sixth and taking part in left area. In his first at-bat, he singled to left area for his first MLB hit.
All informed, Wooden went 1 for 4 with a stroll and a strikeout in his debut. He labored the depend full in opposition to Mets lefty David Peterson, then poked a single past a diving Francisco Lindor in his first at-bat. Wooden struck out in his second at-bat, grounded out to second in his third at-bat, reached on an error by lefty Jake Diekman in his fourth at-bat, then walked in his fifth journey to the plate.
Right here is Wooden’s first massive league knock:
Wooden has spent the season in Triple-A, the place he is batted .346/.458/.578 with 10 house runs, 34 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases on 11 tries. The 21-year-old was initially drafted within the second spherical of the 2021 draft. He was considered because the crown jewel of the commerce that despatched Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres. That deal is now accountable for three members of the Nationals roster, with Wooden becoming a member of left-hander MacKenzie Gore — Monday’s beginning pitcher — and shortstop CJ Abrams. CBS Sports activities just lately detailed why we believed Wooden’s arrival was imminent.
Coming into the season, CBS Sports activities ranked Wooden because the sixth finest prospect within the minors. Here is what we wrote on the time:
Wooden, the important thing to the Juan Soto commerce from the Nationals’ perspective, is an interesting prospect. He is listed at 6-foot-6 and 240 kilos and he is already able to large shows of uncooked energy. (Six of his 28 house runs have been hit to left or left-center area.) And but, take one take a look at him and it is clear that he has room on his body so as to add much more muscle over the approaching years. As that involves fruition, two different developments will happen: 1) he’ll outgrow middle area, and a pair of) he’ll flip into among the finest sluggers in baseball. The one potential snag right here is that Wooden’s mixture of size and persistence makes him extraordinarily vulnerable to strikeouts. He punched out in almost 34% of his journeys to the plate in Double-A, which might’ve certified as the very best charge within the majors. His on-base and slugging potential will allow him to stay productive even with a poor strikeout charge, however there’s celebrity upside right here if he can get it nearer to 30% earlier than he reaches the majors.
Eddie Rosario was designated for task because the corresponding transfer to get Wooden on each the energetic and 40-player rosters.
The Mets spoiled Wooden’s debut with a ten-inning win Monday. The win improved New York to 41-41 this yr. The Nationals fell to 39-45, however with Wooden now within the present, higher days ought to be forward.
